Cutting apparatus



Aug. 1942- D. D. ROGERS 2,291,987

CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 25, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 ZSnnenior I 31:I a ll 8f w m w Aug. 4, 1942.

D. D. ROGERS 2,291,987

CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 23, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ISnventor ,l mrveleCD. R age n5.

Aug. 4, 1942. D. D. ROGERS CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 25, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 5 .i-unll llll Snventor 4 32 .Dawu'aZI. Reagan's Hy Q J. aa

Giro cu g- 1942- D. D. ROGERS 2,291,987

CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 23, 1940 4 Sheets-$heet 4 3nnento):.DxneZD. Rogers Gtto Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITEDHSTATE'S PATENT OFFICE6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cutting apparatus, and in itsmore specific aspects comprises a highway mower which is particularlyadapted to the cutting of grass and the like along roadsides, in ditchesand in fact on any ground surface regardless of its contour asencountered in any usual lay of the land.

In contriving an apparatus of the instant kind it is necessary, andobviously so, to embody numerous details of construction as acontribution toward a rugged piece of mechanism. While thisconsideration has been observed faithfully, the apparatus also embodiesa number of principles which impart a novel aspect thereto. Theseprinciples are briefly summarized in the following statements of theobjects of the invention which are:

First, to provide a cutting apparatus which is readily adaptable to apitched ground surface such as is found along the side walls of ditches,as well as a level ground surface as along the sides of a road.

Second, to provide a cutting apparatus wherein the cutter bar is aptlydescribed as being free floating inasmuch as its full weight rests onthe ground surface from its point of attachment to the sliding shoe.

Third, to provide a cutting apparatus wherein the cutter bar is capableof cutting operation in any position withinan approximately 180 verticalradius, and regardless of its particular setting is capable of beinglifted over obstructions along the path of cutting so that no injury maybefall any part of the mechanism.

Fourth. to provide a highway mower which includes an inner shoe or framewhich can be raised from the ground and carried at any desired operatingheight while the outer end of the cutter bar can be released to float orfollow the contour of the road shoulder or wall of a drainage ditch anywhere within the foregoing 180 radius.

Fifth, to provide a novel latch or hinge release which permits thecutter barto break back 90 from its straight-out cutting position to aposition parallel to the line of travel, said feature being of utmostimportance in instances where hidden obstructions are encountered.

Other objects and advantages will appear in .the followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure l is a perspective view of the foregoing Figure 4 is a sideelevation of the driving head structure in Fig. 3 but employing an innershoe or frame as in Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view of the driving head, particularlyillustrating the foregoing highway mower, illustrating its applicationto a known typeof tractor. Figure 2 is a perspective view of thecoupling member by which the inner shoe or frame is swingably attachedto the tractor chassis.

Flsiireiiisaplanviewmainlyofthedriving head and its driving connections,embodying modifications.

break back action of the cutter bar.

Figure 8 is a cross section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Figure 9 is a section taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

This invention is an improvement on the mower driving head of Daniel D.Rogers disclosed in an application for patent filed September 21, 1938,Serial No. 231,041, now Patent No. 2,214,777, granted September 17,1940, but more directly an improvement on the cutting apparatus ofDaniel D. Rogers disclosed in an application for patent filed September7, 1939, Serial No. 293,- 835.

Use is herein made of a tractor generally designated I, the details ofwhich are of no concern to the invention with the exception that atleast one of the chassis members 2 is used for the support of thecutting apparatus 3 (Fig. l) It is intended that there shall not be anyrestriction as to whichones of the chassis members are employed. In factboth members are employed as in Fig. 4, whereas in Fig. 3 only one ofthem is employed while in Fig. l a part 4 or the structure on thechassis is employed in aiding in the support of the apparatus.

A coupling member 5 is used for the vertically hinging support of acontrlvance l which was previously identified as the inner shoe orframe. The coupling member may take any one of a number of forms, adesirable construction being shown in Fig. 5 wherein said memberconsists of a plate I. Said plate has a hinge knuckle I for a horizontalhinge pin 0 (Fig. 1). It also has a bracket plate l0 attached to thefront of it, said plate having a pair of ears ll, I2 on one side and asingle ear 13 on the other side. Both the plate l and the plate ill havematching holes commonly designated I4. It is a matter of choice whetherthe plates 1 and It shall be made separate and then secured together orcast in one piece.

In either instance the hinge pin 9 connects the coupling member 5 to asupport I'i. In Fig. 1 this support comprises a bracket attached to thenether side of the chassis member 2. In Figs. 3 and 4 wherein .thechassis members are of a tubular type the support l5 comprises a platewhich is attached by means of a pair of U -bolts It. In Figs. 3 and 4incidental use is made of the support II as the carrier or a bracket Hon which an idler I8 is revolubly mounted.

' This idler comprises a tightener for a belt 18 which is applied todriver and driven pulleys 20,

2|, the former deriving'its power in any convenient wayirom the tractormotor. The bracket il is attached to a ing 22 (Fig. 4) upstandin iron;the s port II. by means or at least two bolts 23. Both the bracket lland lug 22 are suitably slotted to provide for the required ad-' 3justments in 'position'oi the idler l8.

It has-been stated that the inner shoe 8 may take on a number o t'fo'rms which will vary only in relatively minor details." That this canbe proved is seen by comparing Fig. l with Figs. 3 and 4. In the formerthe tubular arm 24 which is an essential part of the inner shoe isrested respectively above, and below a pair oi. cross members 2 5, 28,the ends or said members being riveted to hinge bars 21, 28, betweenwhich the tubular arm 24 is cradled".

The upper ends of said bars are secured to the ears I I, l3, thecoupling member 5, the tubular arm 24 being mounted in the common holesl4. The arm may simply be loosely emplaced in these holes, reliancebeing put on U bolts such as 28 merals.

The main structural difierence occurs in the hinge bars 21, 28 and alsoin the cross member 25. The latter now comprises an angle iron with ahole of suflicient size in one of its webs to contain the tubular arm 24(Fig. 4). .;A Ubolt 29 is used as previously described to clamp the armfirmly at this point,

Instead of the bar 21 being extended back to the coupling member 5 itstops at the cross member 28 'where it is secured in any chosen manner.Instead of the hinge bar 28 being extended back tofthemem-ber 5 it stopsat the cross member 25 with which it can be made integral. In bothinstances (Figs. 1 and 3, 4) the bars 21, 28 terminate in hinge ends 48,41. The respective hinge ends are fitted between pairs of lugs 48.49;upstanding from a shoe 58. The connectionpis made by pins 5|, 52 whichprovide a hinge-joint between the shoe 5!) and its carried parts and thepreviously mentioned driving head which is now identified 53.

Said driving head comprises a simple gearing (Fig.5) by which power istransmitted from a shaft 54 inside or the tubular arm 24 to the sicklebar 55 of the cutter bar 55. It is this shaft which carries the drivenpulley 2| (Fig. 3). The gearing mentioned consists of a pair of bevelgears 51, 58 (Fig. 5), the first being rigid on the lower end of theshaft 54, the other being keyed at 59 to a crank shaft 60, thecomponents of which are in axial alinement with the I in the sleeve iiiof the driving head housing The cylinder 32 contains a piston (notshown),

the rod 38 of which carries a fork 34 on its exposed end. A sheave 85 isjournalied in this fork,

' and it carries the bight oi. a cable 35, the ends or which arepresently accounted ,for. A hydesignated 31, is mounted on the tractorin a position of convenient access to the driver. It is deemedunnecessary to go into the details of this mechanism, it being thoughtsuflicient to draulic pump and valve mechanism, commonly v state that bya proper operation of the respective valve the pressure fluid is made toflowin the conduits 38, 38, in such a way as to move the piston in thecylinder 32 in one direction or r the other thus to draw in or let outthe rod 33.

nism reference is made to the driving head hoist 82 by means of a clamparrangement 53 (Fig. 3). Said housing has a beveled annulus 64 at one ofits extremities and an abutment plate 85 at the other extremity (Fig.5). A ball 56 is rested-against said plate, being held there because ofits being contained by a concavity 51 in the inner end of the pin 52,said pin being long enough to provide for the bearing of the ballagainst the plate.

A cap 58 excludes dust and dirt from the ball, having a hole 59 toaccommodate the near end of the pin 52 which, as seen in Fig. 5, isthreaded "a considerable portion of its length. It is screwed at I0 intothe innermost one or the lugs 49 so as to'be-capable of adjustment withrespect thereto. The adjustments are locked by a nut H. The purpose ofadjusting the pin 52 is to maintaina tight but working joint of theannulus 64 against a correspondingly beveled base 12 of the ing cylinder48. This cylinder has conduit connections 4|, 42 with the mechanism 31for the purpose or actuating the contained piston (not shown) theexposed end or the rod 43 or which has secured to it one end of a shortcable 44,

or its equivalent on the cross member 25.

, 60' the other end or which is attached to an eye45- So far it isreadily understood that the regulation of the position of the piston inthe cylinder 48 determines the altitude of the cutting apparatus 3 withrespect to the tractor l." The in-'- ner shoe 8 canbe swung on the hingepin 8 through a large angular distance, the swingin during a cuttingoperation manifestly being es-' sential as when the driving head andcutter bar have to be raised above an obstruction such as fire hydrantor tree stump.

Referring now to Figures '3 and .4 all parts identical with those justdescribed in Fig. 11

crank case 13, This crank case is rigidly affixed to the shoe 58 forwhich purpose it has flanges 14 (Fig. 6) which are fastened down bymeans of bolts I5.

' Thus when it is desired to swing the cutting apparatus 3 with respectto the inner shoe 6 (Fig. 1) in order to stand the cutter bar 56 at thedesired inclination, the turning occurs on the common axis consisting ofthe pins 51, 52, and

the crank shaft 60 (Fig. 5), the entire shoe 50 and all of itsimmediately carried parts swinging .'-on' said axis in reference to thedriving head 53 which, with the inner shoe 8 and tubular arm 24 remainsstationary.

"11 g turning is accomplished by action of the piston in the cylinder32, the previously unaccounted for ends of the cable 36 respectivelybeinganchored to the cross member 26 asat 16 3) and to the forward andlower end of a sheave quadrant 11. This quadrant isbolted at 18 (Fig. 5)to the crank case 13, one of the bolts 7 are designated by correspondingreference nu-flii thus} designated serving to secure the halves of thecrank case. There is a stepped joint I! between the housing 82 and crankcase I3 to minimize the entrance of foreign matter to the joint 44, 72.

A roller bearing (Fig. supports the short end of the crank shaft 80,Since the rollers are of the characteristic tapering formation it ispossible to exercise some force on the crank shaft in the axialdirection without displacing the rollers or unduly tightening thbearing. Said force occurs only when the necessity arises for adjustingthe pin 02, and said adjustment is solely for the p rp se of taking upeventual wear of the annulus 64 and its matching bas 12. To this end thegear 08 has a fairly long hub 0| which revolves in the bore 02 of asleeve portion 08 of the crank case I3. It is around this sleeve portionthat the previously mentioned joint occurs.

The previously mentioned key is slidable in a slot 04 in the hub 8|.Thus when looseness occurs in said joint, namely the annulus 64 'andbase I2, a turning of the screw pin 02 moves the driving head 03 over avery slight distance. Naturally the gear 51 pushes the gear 08 along thecrank shaft 60 a slight distance, it being only the frictional componentbetween the key I! and its slot 04 that exercises the previouslymentioned force against the crank shaft. It must be remembered that thecrank case I3 is stationary as far as endwise movement is concerned, thejoint adjustment being derived from the relative setting of the housing62.

Considerable emphasis has been laid upon the break back action of thecutter bar 58 as when the guard 85 (Fig. 5) strikes an unseenobstruction. To allow this action use is made of a cutter bar mount 80which, in its effect, is a hinge knuckle for the cutter bar. Itcomprises a substantial plate portion 01 to which the inner end of thecutter bar 56 is secured by a number of bolts 88. The mount 80 ha anupwardly tapered hole 00 (Fig. 6) which is occupied by a correspondinglytapered hub 00 upstanding from the shoe 50. The purpose of the taperingis to maintain a' constantly tight yet tumable bearing which insuresagainstundesired looseness of the mount 04 and the prevention of itssagging in reference to the shoe.

A screw stud 0| (Fig. 6), driven into the hub II has a washer 02 mountedon it and a pair of lock nuts 93 screwed onto it to hold the washer downagainst the mount 00 so as to prevent its rising from the hub. The plateportion 01 is undercut at least at one place as at 04 (Fig. 8) tocontain the beveled side portion of the cutter bar. That end of themount 00 farthest from its hinge connection to the shoe 0 has a detent05 which merely comprises an upstanding lug (Fig. 8)

This detent is held by the head 04 of a break back tie link 01. Thislink has an offset barrel portion 00 at its end opposit to the head 04.This is seated and tumable in the crotch 00 between a pair ofprotuberances I00 upstanding from the shoe I0. A hollow boss IOI, alsoupstanding from the shoe (Fig 8), accommodates the head of a bolt I02which goes through the boss and through a hole in the tie link 87,extending up high enough to take a fairly long coil spring I03. Thisspring eiiercises its tension against the link, the tension beingadjustable by nuts I04 on the threaded end of th bolt.

It can readily be understood that when the detent CI is swung intoengagement with the turn in the forked end I00 3 head I (Fig. 8) thecutter bar 56 will be maintained in its straight-out cutting positionunder all ordinary circumstances. Of course this presupposesthe'retention of the detent 95 by the head I, but then the spring I03 isfairly heavy and thus insures the tie link 91 against rocking until anobstruction is encountered.

Reverting to Fig. 1 it is seen here that the hoisting cylinder 40 ismounted on the tractor I by means of a bracket III! which is attached tothe structure 4. Said bracket turnably supports the cylinder 40, forwhich purpose the latter has a collar I08 with trunnions I01 which ofthe. bracket. The sickle bar I5 is actuated from the crank shaft 00(Fig. 5) much on the order disclosed in the Rogers application 231,041,new Patent 2,214,777 of Sept. 17. 1940. Accordingly the crank I09 has aconnecting rod III with a wrist pin connection to a shaft III which isreciprocable in a packing gland H2.

The coupling between the shaft II I and the sickle bar 00 is madethrough the medium of a link 'I I3 instead of directly to said sicklebar as in the patent. Said link actually comprises a two-partconstruction, the upper and lower parts 'IIS on the shaft III.

I Ila of which being bolted or otherwise secured together as shown. Theends of the link are socketed at IIIb respectively for the occupancy ofa ball III on the nether side of a head I I4 and of a ball I II whichcomprises the upstanding part of a forging IIIe which is bolted onto theinner end of the knife or sickle bar 55. The parts Ilia are originallyprovided with shoulders ll-adjacent to the sockets IIIb so that theseshoulders contact each other when the parts II3a are assembled. Later onwhen undue wear occurs between the balls and sockets. the parts Ilia aredisassembled and the shoulders 3] are flled'oif for proper adjustment.Eventually if and when the balls wear the original spacing of the partsIlla will be restored by shims inserted where the shoulders III]formerly were.

Rubber abutments III are located between opposite sides of the head H4and stop members This particular feature is disclosed in an applicationfor patent for rod joint or coupling filed by Daniel D. Rogers Sept. 14,1940, Serial No. 356,877. But returning to the link I II, it is to beobserved that this constitutes a hinge connection between the shaft IIIand the knife or sickle bar 55. The purpose of the connection is topermit the swinging of the cutter bar 06 (Fig. 7) with respect to theshaft when the break back action occurs. At that time the backwardmotion is limited by the engagement of the mount 06 with a stop II!upstanding from the shoe.

A side brace I20 (Fig. 1) is desirable to use in most installationssince it prevents undue strain on the hinge pin I. The upper end of saidbrace is turnabiy connected at I2I (Fig. 3) to a bracket I22 on one ofthe members 2. The lower end of said brace is held by the pin iI, eitherdirectly as in Fig. 1 or through the medium of an angled extension I23as in Fig. 3. In conclusion, use is made of a pipe I24 (Fig. 1) to placethe gland H2 in communication with the interior of the crank case It,thus to equalize the air pressure in the crank case and the space inback of the gland H2.

The operation is readily understood. Under ordinary circumstances thecutting apparatus assumes the position shown in Fig. 1. The driving head43 is supported by setting the position of clears the ground surface.The holdingpressure forthe piston inside of the cylinder 32 is desirablyrelaxed so as to let the cutter bar 58 slide Adjustments for thealtitude of the cutting ap-,

paratus 3' and for the inclination of the cutter bar 56 are obtained bymanipulating the rods 43. and 33 of the respective cylinders 40, 32. I I

As an alternative to the suspension 'of the hoisting cylinder 40 asillustrated in Fig. 1 its supportmay be arranged as in Fig. 4. Here thetrunnions fill occur at the upper end of the cylinder which, in thisinstance, is shorter than the cylinder in Fig. l. The bracket I05 iscorre-' spondingly modified in shape but the ultimate effect is toswingably support the hoisting cylinder.

Reference was made to the hinge action of the link H3 upon theoccurrence of the break back action of the cutter bar 56 (Fig. 7). Whenthis action occurs the link H3 partakes of a slight arcuate motionon theball H8 as the center. The shaft including drive and crank shaftswith'intermeshed gears, a crank case affixedto the shoe,;a drive headhousing, said housing and casej'containing said means and havingaijoint' therebe tween, means turnably supporting the shoe in axialalinement with said crank shaft and joint, and means carried by theshoe, being part of the turnable carrying means and exercising'pressuremaintain the tightness of against said housing to saidjoint. 2. Incutting apparatus, a-shoe having a cutter and sickle bar assemblageextendingitherefrom,

, drive means for'actuating the sickle bar includ- 7 ing a gear with ahub, a case aflixed to the shoe containing a portion of the drive meanswhich includes a crank shaft supporting thev hub, a key carried by saidshaft, slidably occupying a slot in the hub, a housing containing saidgear and othermember swingably attachable to the chassis of the pistoninside of the cylinder 40. Ordinarily the adjustment is such that theshoe ill just ally extended cutter and sickle bar assemblage, drivemeans for the sickle bar, a structure cont'aining most of the drivemeans, said structure consisting of a case rigidly affixed to the shoeand having a sleeve portion with an internal bore and an external base,hinged supporting centered in said sleeve, said shaft and hub having aslidable key connection, and a ball between the screw pin and a portionof the housing, exercising a pressure to maintain the joint, necessaryadjustments of the screw pin being accommodated by limited sliding ofthe key connection. 4. Cutting apparatus comprising a coupling 1atransporting vehicle, a tubular arm and frame 7 bars in interconnectedformation and supported by said coupling member, a shoe hingedlyconnected to said bars. providing for the swinging of said shoe inrespect to said formation, a cutter and sickle bar assemblage carried bythe shoe,

including drive means centered on the hinge connection to allow saidassemblage to swing with the shoe, means to sustain said formation andshoe at chosen altitudes, and means carried by the coupling member incommon with said arm and frame has and having means connected with Illreciprocates rectilinearly, and 0 since the link H3 is connected with itattheball 13 an encasement of said drive means to accomsaid hingeconnecporting vehicle; said member including one pair of lugs and asingle lug, a tubular arm extending from the coupling member andcarrying a driving head, a shoe having a housing turnably joined 1 withsaid head and provided witha sheave quadrant, a hinge'connectionembodied in the shoe housing, hinge bars fixed in reference to the tubularjarm, at least one of the bars being secured to in line with'the axisof turning of said head and the single lug, and a hoisting cylindermounted between the pair of lugs, said cylinder embodying j sheavequadrant.

movable means ,with. a'cable connection to the 6. In cutting apparatus,a coupling member swingably attachable to the chassis of a transportingvehicle, attubular arm" extending from .thecoupling member and carryinga driving he'ad,

' va shoehaving' ahousing turnably joined with portions of the drivemechanism, said housing, I

and case having matching portions constituting a turnable joint betweenthe housing and case, supporting means having hinge pin connections.with the shoe situated on theaxis of the crank shaft maintain thetightness of the joint-J 3. In cutting apparatus, a shoe having saidhead and provided with a sheave quadrant, a hinge connection embodied inthe shoe in line with the axis of turning of said'head and housing,hinge bars having oneo'f their terminals embodied in. the hingeconnection, cross members afllxedto the tubular'arm and having the otherterminals of said hingebars aflixed thereto.

hoisting meansmounted on the coupling member andv embodyingmov'ablemeans with a cable connection to the sheave quadrant forswinging b i a mem er, I

.thecoupling member, and brace means having I one of its endsembodied inthe hinge connection, 7 fand'ihaving-bracketmeans at its other endattachable to the chassis for swinging with the cou-

